FAQs answered on proposed Stroudsburg school closures

The Stroudsburg School Board will hold a public hearing Wednesday on whether to close Clearview and/or Ramsey school buildings.

CHRISTINA TATU

The Stroudsburg School Board will hold a public hearing Wednesday on whether to close Clearview and/or Ramsey school buildings.

This isn't the first time potential closures have come up. In 2012, the board voted down a motion to hold a public hearing on whether to close Ramsey Elementary.

Officials say the district is facing a possible $4.5 million deficit going into 2014-15, making it necessary to consider such measures.

According to a state-imposed timeline, following Wednesday's hearing, the board must wait at least 90 days before making a decision on whether to close one or both buildings.

Here are some frequently asked questions, with answers taken from information previously provided to the school board by Superintendent John Toleno.

Q: What would happen if Clearview and/or Ramsey were closed?

A: In the event both buildings are closed, kindergarten and first grades would be divided among Hamilton, Morey and Arlington.

Grades 2-3 would go to the Intermediate Elementary School, and grades 4-7 would go to the middle school.

Grades 8-9 would go to the junior high school and grades 10-12 would be at the high school.

If just Ramsey were closed, those students would be moved to another facility.

One example developed by the administration: Grades 1-2 could go to Hamilton, one section of kindergarten could go to Morey, and another section could go to Clearview.

Q: What are the strengths and weaknesses of each building?

A: Ramsey's location would make it impossible for the district to build an addition onto the school.

"Nor should we consider any kind of renovation due to potentially high costs and little return on investment," Toleno wrote. "The bottom line with Ramsey is that you will only ever be able to fit so many kids within those walls, and the potential for expansion does not exist."

Clearview offers the second fewest classrooms among the district's five elementary schools.

"Educationally, it serves the purpose, but the building allows only so much flexibility in this discussion," Toleno said. "The property is worth keeping should any moves be made."

Q: Which scenario would have the least impact on student transportation?

A: "Needless to say, some students will need to travel farther to a 'new' school, but some may travel a shorter distance to a 'new' school. So, until we hone in on one specific scenario, I will not be able to answer this question," Toleno said.

Q: How much would the closures save the district?

A: District Business Manager Don Jennings estimated Stroudsburg could save anywhere from $250,000 to $300,000 annually per elementary school.

These figures are based on the district keeping the buildings. They take into account the cost of maintaining the buildings and providing necessary services such as security, electricity and pest control.

Q: What are the trade-offs between savings and educational impact?

A: "Education should not be impacted in any way, shape or form for the sake of savings. We have worked too hard in this district to get to where we are," Toleno wrote.

"In my mind, closing one or more elementary schools will not directly impact the educational program that is in place, and I might argue that in some cases it could help through efficiency. The only effect that closing one or more elementary schools will have is one of inconvenience through change. It will not affect the program that is currently in place."

Closing one or more elementary buildings could improve the efficiency of special services provided by teachers such as speech therapists, who now must travel between school buildings, officials have said.

If one or more buildings are closed, those teachers would spend less time on the road and more time helping students.

Q: What are the chances certain buildings could/would be converted to charter schools or preschool centers?

A: If charter schools opened in one or any of our buildings, it would mean a loss of revenue to the district, Toleno said.

For example, if a charter school opened and took 100 of the district's students, the district could look at reducing its teaching staff.

However, any savings from reducing staff would be negated by the tuition the district is required to pay for its students who attend charter schools.

It costs about $1,200 annually to educate a student. At 100 students, that would be $1.2 million.

"I don't see us as being able to rent one of our closed buildings to a charter school for $1.2 million a year, so it would be a huge loss of funds if any one of our buildings went to this purpose," Toleno wrote.

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